Dietary dogmas die a slow, sometimes drawn-out death. This seems to be especially true for sodium, largely because such respected organizations as the CDC, FDA and AHA (American Heart Association) have circled the wagons on salt restriction.

Despite growing evidence that suggests the kind of sodium reduction recommended by these public health organizations may be misguided, the leadership appears unwilling to change course. Two years ago we shared the latest salvo in the salt wars from pages of The New England Journal of Medicine (Aug. 14, 2014).

The News Media Adds to the Confusion:

Should you have read the headlines that accompanied the research you would have been forgiven for feeling confused. The media did not know what to make of the two contradictory articles and an editorial published in this highly regarded medical journal. Just look at these completely clashing headlines from the week of August 11, 2014.

“Death By Salt? New Study Finds Too Much Sodium Is A Global Killer” –NPR

“1.6 Million Heart Disease Deaths Every Year Caused by Eating Too Much Salt” – Healthline News

No one could blame you if you were confused by these mixed messages. So, what are we to believe? Salt is a killer or low-salt diets actually harm our health?

The study that advised Americans to cut back on salt was based on previous research and involved complex mathematical modeling. In essence, the Harvard researchers crunched a lot of numbers and concluded that extra salt in the diet was causing 1.6 million extra deaths annually around the world.

Most public health professionals ignored this cautionary tale. It didn’t fit with their long-held beliefs that salt is a killer.

The Actual Data:

The contradictory study was based on calculations of sodium intake and health outcomes. The researchers tracked over 100,000 adults from 18 countries. They measured sodium excretion by testing morning urine samples, a good way of assessing how much salt people consumed the prior day. The conclusions:

“In this large, international, prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between estimated sodium and potassium excretion (used as surrogates for intake) and the composite of death and cardiovascular outcomes. The lowest risk of death and cardiovascular events was seen among participants with an estimated sodium excretion between 3 g per day and 6 g per day. Both higher and lower levels of estimated sodium excretion were associated with increased risk, resulting in a J-shaped association curve.”

OK, that’s doctor talk. What does it mean in plain English? Basically, it’s the story of Goldilocks and the porridge–not too hot, not too cold. It boils down to moderation. These researchers found that if you keep your sodium intake between 3,000 and 6,000 mg daily, you are likely to have the best outcome.

Push Back from Public Health Agencies:

That is way more than the CDC and the AHA recommend. These public health officials want everyone over the age of 50 to keep their total sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg of sodium daily. That is a good bit less than a teaspoon of salt daily. That means food is quite bland and most people find it unpalatable.

To give you some sense of how many people actually attain that goal, here is what the researchers found. Less than 4% of the population surveyed actually achieved sodium intake in line with guidelines from the American Heart Association and the CDC. More important, though, was the finding that cutting sodium intake to the recommended levels (less than 1,500 mg of sodium daily) was associated with worse health outcomes. Equally, excessive salt intake (over 6,000 mg of sodium daily) was also associated with negative results. The sweet spot was 3,000 to 5,999 mg of sodium daily, which is twice to four times more salt than our public health officials recommend.

This is not the first time very low sodium intake has been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or death. Here are just a few other articles that suggest too little or too much sodium could be dangerous:

“Compared with usual sodium intake, low- and excessive-sodium diets are associated with increased mortality: a meta-analysis.” American Journal of Hypertension (online, April 26, 2014)

“Estimated urinary sodium excretion and risk of heart failure in men and women in the EPICNorfolk study.” European Journal of Heart Failure(online, January 20, 2014)

The Latest Research:

On May 20, 2016 a new study was published in The Lancet confirming that the sweet spot for sodium was between 3,000 and 6,000 mg per day. Below that people experienced a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death. Above that, people with hypertension also experienced higher mortality. Not surprisingly, the public health experts complained bitterly about the new conclusions. Old beliefs die hard and it is much easier to circle the wagons than to accept new ideas. Here is a link to our article about the research titled “Should the ‘Salt is Safe’ Heretics Be Burned at the Stake.” You can also listen to a brief interview with the lead investigator at this link.

What’s the Bottom Line on Salt and Cutting Sodium Intake?

Despite an unwavering conviction that all African Americans, people with diabetes or hypertension and everyone over 50 should get sodium intake below 1,500 mg daily, there is no actual research proving that doing so will prolong life or improve health outcomes. That is not just our opinion. That is the conclusion of the most prestigious group of medical experts in America, The Institute of Medicine.

How is this possible? As we said at the outset, beliefs die hard and the conviction that salt is the enemy has been firmly entrenched for decades. Although most public health experts and health professionals embrace the concept of “evidence-based medicine,” they have a hard time accepting new data that contradicts long-held dogma.

The idea that low levels of sodium could have negative health consequences is a man-bites-dog story that challenges everything people have been taught. But here’s the explanation. When sodium intake drops below 1,500 mg per day, some people develop a stress reaction. Remember, sodium is essential for life. Low levels of sodium can trigger adrenaline (epinephrine) release along with increases in insulin, lipids like cholesterol and stress hormones such as renin, angiotensin and aldosterone.

There is no conclusive evidence that a low sodium diet reduces cardiovascular events in normotensive and pre-hypertensive or hypertensive individuals. On the contrary, there is sound evidence that a low sodium diet leads to a worse cardiovascular prognosis in patients with systolic congestive heart failure or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Worldwide sodium restriction, through its adverse effects on insulin resistance, may lead to an increase in the rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus…Advising low sodium diets seems misguided and potentially dangerous and illustrates the problem of guidelines based on flawed studies using surrogate measures.”

Want to know more about what you can do to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease without resorting to a low-sodium diet? Our book, Best Choices from The People’s Pharmacy provides a great many non-drug options that are affordable, low-risk and surprisingly easy to adopt. You will learn more about the contentious salt wars and find foods that can lower blood pressure about as well as many medications.

Share your own salt story below in the comment section.

Revised, June 23, 2016

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21 Thoughts Shared

HelenM

Modesto

June 27, 2016 at 2:45 pm

I think 100 years from now they will consider our present time as the dark age of so called evidence based medicine. 10 to 15 minute appointments, worse and more complicated health issues because they were not nipped in the bud when they were but small problems. No time for education, meaning doctor to patient. Oh, there is lots and lots of information on the net; however, just as in the example above many “facts” conflict with others. And you know, the medicaliese that is supposed to set doctors apart, so we poor peons will not get above ourselves, is really a barrier to good learning.

It will be a good day for humanity when they begin teaching nutrition in kindergarten, and allow children to further pursue their fields of interest within the general field of health. We surely could use a lot more herbalists, for instance, than we have now.

Frank

Riverside County CA

June 26, 2016 at 12:39 am

To add to the confusion, I am 98 years old and I never paid any attention to the salt restriction recommendations and never had a high blood pressure problem. However, I found that when food seemed too salty to me I refused to eat it, and when it seem not salty enough I added salt. I found that most of the restaurant food is too salty for me. I could not always tell that something was too salty but I knew later in the day when I had to drink a lot of water. I notice than when I feel that I’d like to eat something salty I was not reluctant to grab a bag of chips. If I could pass on to you anything helpful I would say that your own tasting might tell if it is too salty for you. My long gone wife always cooked with too much salt for me. I’d prefer no salt added to let me add the salt I wanted at the table.

rob

aurora, ohio

June 25, 2016 at 11:34 am

Lisa

June 24, 2016 at 12:00 pm

Table salt in itself is not healthy. I use sea salt only. Seemingly processed food is another topic within the salt issue; but I know first hand how cutting salt intake to ridiculous levels is dangerous.

My 86 young neighbor has been going through hurdles for several years trying to maintain the western medicine’s stance on a low sodium intake. Throw in a cocktail of prescription drugs and every day of her life is a roller coaster event. I worry now seeing her excessive swelling in legs and ankles worsen. Reg MD just keeps increasing her potassium and lasix. I recently suggested she see her heart doc to rule in or out Congestive Heart Failure.

So many issues going on, but in the long run, my stance has been (and will continue to be) with the influx of prescription drugs in America, plain and simple. Western Medicine and Pharmaceutical Companies sadly dictate the negative outcome in millions of Americans. Period.

Patricia G.

June 24, 2016 at 10:24 am

Since people in the United States do not learn to use the metric system, will People’s Pharmacy please add to any articles on salt restriction or non-restriction recommendations a non-metric equivalent measure? (such as teaspoons) I recently read a nutrition book that offered equivalents in non metric along with the metric. That information was most helpful.

3000mg or 1500 mg of sodium says nothing to a person who is “metric deficient.”

Betty

June 24, 2016 at 10:24 am

I don’t have trouble by salting my eggs lightly or my raw tomatoes, or even having bacon on my BLT’s (no added salt), but pizza, prepared foods, prepared mixes, canned soups, OMG I feel it by that evening, and I can see it in my legs. Not logical. I avoid the latter stuff, but once in a while, it happens.

Conie

NC

June 24, 2016 at 7:04 am

Michael

Central Florida

June 24, 2016 at 6:46 am

Is there any home urine test to show your salt level? Tracking daily consumption in detail isn’t really practical. Walk-in labs charge nearly $40, which seems like a lot for what should be a simple test.

Mary

August 26, 2014 at 1:14 pm

I remember when I was a child (a LONG time ago) salt tablets were advertised and sold “for people who lose too much salt” through heavy work and sweating in hot weather.
What goes around comes around! I never have taken salt restriction very seriously because research on it has always been contradictory. Looks like the diet experts could concentrate more of their attention on what they really know is harmful — and helpful. That way we might take them more seriously.

JG

August 26, 2014 at 12:34 pm

I am 70 and my doctor just put me on blood pressure medicine along with telling me I have to cut down on salt. I have always been conscious of salt (like not eating potato chips and noticing the amount in canned soup) but I could never cook without it, or for that matter eat well without it. I printed this article and will take it on my next visit to my doctor. Thanks so much for giving us this information.

D. Morris

August 26, 2014 at 12:23 pm

My 80 year old mother cut salt out of her diet several years ago due to hypertension.
Earlier this year during a 2-month period she fell several times a week. Doctors initially blamed it on her ears and old age. After a particularly bad fall outside on cement she ended up in the hospital emergency room where after several tests it was determined she had extremely low sodium levels.
She now has to take salt tablets and drink Gatorade daily to keep her sodium levels where they belong. If she misses a dose or forgets to drink the Gatorade we can tell pretty quickly as she seems disoriented and her balance is poor. So, beware of cutting out salt from your diet as it can have serious consequences.

SEL

August 26, 2014 at 10:35 am

I loved reading this article and will soon be eating a fresh tomato with some SALT on it. I will enjoy it with no guilt. However, years ago I went to a clinic in North Carolina that based it’s whole existence on saving people with hypertension and diabetes by restricting dietary sodium to 300 to 500 mg per day. Imagine trying to keep sodium down to that level.
The first day they took me off my blood pressure medications. Within 2 days of the sodium restricted diet, which consisted of oatmeal and fruit, no vegetables because they have salt (vegetables and fish added later to the diet) my blood pressures was well within the normal range, 110/65 or something like that. It was truly amazing. However; I could not stay on that diet. You cannot eat at a restaurant because restaurants are famous for using very high amounts of salt to improve flavor and a single meal out would put me well over 500 mg. It wasn’t even possible for me to stay on that restriction at home.
I slowly added a little more salt in my diet and went back on bp meds, which I hate. I have a long family history of hypertension and heart disease and so I think at least some part of my own problem is genetic. I will continue to monitor the salt in my diet, but 3000 mg will be so much easier to manage than 1500. I later read that the 300 to 500 mg salt restriction starts failing to work within a couple of years and people wind up back on bp meds anyway. It is hard to know what to believe about food or medicine these days.

mary

June 26, 2016 at 5:12 am

I lost 30 lbs. on a gluten free diet my cholesterol and BP also dropped. My sodium levels have been no problem. Because of the gut problem I introduced more probiotics to my diet. Plus I added Wobenzym. The gluten had a major impact that kept my system very acid and toxic.

mary

June 26, 2016 at 5:14 am

cara

August 26, 2014 at 10:03 am

Doctors need to remember they are treating an individual, not a group. Every person is different. There is no one size fits all for anything in medicine.
The medical world doesn’t want to hear that because they want their patients to be of the in and out variety. They don’t want to take the time to treat patients individually. Some people are greatly affected by salt. I am one who is. Fortunately, I have a naturopathic doctor who believes in treating the individual. He looks at each patient very carefully. More doctors should do that instead of putting everyone into some mold the CDC or AMA throws out.

william w

August 26, 2014 at 9:41 am

I read a study long ago where it said that only 1/4 of the people are salt-sensitive. That is, more salt meant high blood pressure. Let’s assume that’s correct.
So you do a study: on average, 1/4 of your sample is salt sensitive. But different studies will have different percentages of salt sensitive people and give different results. In addition, the 3/4 who are not sensitive will skew the data towards showing less effect.
Very difficult situation. Obviously a test is needed to ascertain who is sensitive and clearly that does not exist.

paulbyr

August 26, 2014 at 9:33 am

Sounds (to my untrained ears) that, like many things, there are MANY factors at play here. Maybe a massive experiment, with 2 million subjects, could find out WHICH people need to reduce their salt intake and which do NOT need to.
I never liked excessive salt anyhow, so I’m just on the sidelines.

Abid M.

August 26, 2014 at 9:18 am

You quote American Journal of Medicine as saying:
“There is no conclusive evidence that a low sodium diet reduces cardiovascular events in normotensive and pre-hypertensive or hypertensive individuals.”
I’ve been categorized as hypertensive since in 1979 when my hypertension was first discovered. I’ve been taking antihypertensive drugs since then for keeping my BP under control. In addition to drugs I’ve been taking all the usual steps of low fat diet, little to no red meats, weight reduction and so on, including a sodium-restricted diet.
About 3 months ago I started taking pomegranate, beet and carrot juice and have been able to drop without ill impact on BP, my morning dose of a beta blocker that I now take only at night with amlodipine and a combination drug, Co-Approvel in the morning.
I am now 75 years old. My father died of a stroke at 63. He was hypertensive. So my problem could be genetic. So far I’ve been spared any “cardiovascular event”. Would it be advisable for me to go back to “The sweet spot [of] 3,000 to 5,999 mg of sodium daily”?

RCR Jr

August 26, 2014 at 7:05 am

Very interesting It looks like every one has a different opinion. Make you wonder about all the other medication we take for our health & their interaction with other drugs both prescribed by Dr’s & over the counter. I’m not sure any of us are going to make it to 150? But I lost my Mother in July just 50 days short of 102 years old & took no Medication only wore glasses for fine print & had her own teeth.

vcar

August 26, 2014 at 6:32 am

I have had a high blood pressure problem which in now under control. I take Furosemide and spironolact daily. All of a sudden I began to crave salt. I listened to my body and resorted to pork skins because they seem to have less salt on the skins. Is this normal whatever normal is???

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